Gate moving means for vehicles



April 15, 1952 Filed June 16, 1949 W. C. ANTHONY ET AL GTE MOVING MEANS FOR VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Smetl l April 15, 1952 w. c. ANTHONY ET AL GATE MOVING MEANS FOR VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1949 l I I 1 l 1 l l l l I l l l lull.

April 15, 1952 w. c. ANTHONY ET AL GATE MOVING MEANS EOE VEHICLES 4 Sheefzs-Sheet ZS Filed June 16, 1949 April 15, 1,952 w. c. ANTHONY ET AL 2,593,240

GATE MOVING MEANS FOR VEHICLES Filed June 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 GATE MOVIN G MEANS FOR VEHICLES William C. Anthony and Lester W. Wachter, IStreator, Ill., assignors to Anthony Company, Streatoig Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,542

This invention relates. to a lifting assembly comp-rising a load carrying memberwhich may also act asia gate. The invention has for one object to provide means for moving the surface member from the load carrying position to the vertical position in which it may act as a gate.

It has for another object to provide a hydraulic means for closing the gate member.

A further object is to provide means for closing the gate hydraulically and for utilizing the hydraulic system which also raises and lowers the gate member when it ser-ves as a load carrying member.

A still further object is to provide a gate closing means arranged-to move the gate to the closed position and to return vit to the load rcarrying position. y Y

Other objects willappear lfrom time to time throughout the specification and claims.

The invention is illustratedmore or less diagrammatieally in the accompanying drawis, wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a plan- -view of the gate closing means applied te a lifting assembly with parts broken away and parts omitted;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken at line 3 3 of Figure 1 illustrating the gate closing means on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing a valve assembly;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail taken at line 5-5 of- Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial plan view withparts in section and with parts omitted showing a modified form of conduit means for the gate closing assembly.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawings.

In the form here shown, the device is illustrated as being mounted upon a vehicle such as an automotive truck. Only so much of the truck is illustrated as to indicate the location of the device upon the truck. The truck may include chassis frame members I upon which is supported a body platform 2. The details of the framing and particular supporting means for the body and the platform are not illustrated as they form no essential part of the invention.

Generally, it may be understood that the invention comprises an elevating assembly suitable for mountingupon an automotivevehicle and comprising a load carrying surfacemember and means for lowering it to the load surface and ,for raising Y 2 it to bring itzsubstantially level with the upper surface of the body oor. A device of this general type is illustrated in Patent No. 2,389,221, issued November 20, v1945, toLester W. Wachter, one of the inventors of the device disclosed herewith.A

The present invention comprises primarily means for closing and opening the load carrying member so that it may be used as the rear or tail gate of the vehicle upon which the elevating assembly is mounted. Only so much of the main elevating assembly will be described as is necessary to an understanding of the gate closing claimed herewith. The device is supported upon a transverse member 3 which carries attaching plates 4-4. These plates may, as shown, be provided with a plurality of perforations so that bolts or other attaching members may be used to secure them to the frames of vehicles of varying sizes.

Depending :from the transverse member 3 are two armsupporting means 5 -5. To each of these meansis pivoted two pairs of arm members.' As shown in Figures l and 2, there isv an outer pair of arm members i5- 6, each of which is pivoted to one of the members 5 as at 1. There is also provided an inner pair of arms 8 8., each of which is pivoted preferably on the inner face of one of the members 5 as at 9, as shown in Figure 2. The arms 6 are each provided with offset portions IIJ which are attached to the load carrying member in a manner described below, and each of the arms 8 is provided with a member II which is joined to the load carrying member. The arm members 8 may be connected adjacent their free ends by a transverse member I2, as shown in Figure 1, and a pair of longitudinal members I3 may also be xed between the arms 8. These members are joined to the member I2 at one end and at the other end may be supported concentrically'with the pivot 9 of the members 8.

A cylinder I4 is supportedin trunnions I5-I5 whichrare themselves carried upon plates I6 secured to the transverse frame or supporting member 3. A piston, not shown, is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder I4 and a piston rod Il, which is secured to the piston, extends outwardly beyond the cylinder and is attached to a :member 18. The member I8 is mounted for rotation as at lila with respectto the members I3.

Pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder I 4 through a conduit I9 which is connected to the cylinder by means of a connection 20. The connection 2|] is concentric with the trunnion I5.

Pressure fluid is discharged from the cylinder I4' through a conduit 2l which is connected to a conduit 22 through which` pressure fluid returns to its source or to a sump. Generally, pressure fluid is supplied from a pump which may be located at any suitable point either on the vehicle-or on the cylinder or elsewhere. It passes through the conduit i9 and the connection 28 and into a valve housing 2i. within which a valve, not shown, is positioned.` The details of this valve and the operating means for it are omitted since they form no essential part of the present invention.

As above stated, controlled means are provided for directing fluid to the cylinder and for permitting it to be discharged from the cylinder and to return to the pump or to a sump. Preferably the cylinder is of the single acting type and ud is discharged through the conduit from the valve housing 23 to a point outwardly beyond the piston. Such pressure fluid draws the piston upwardly in the cylinder toward the pivot point of the cylinder and correspondingly draws the piston rod I1 into the cylinder. This movement raises the load carrying member from the full-line position of Figure 1 to the dotted 'line position of that figure.

The load carrying member comprises generally a framework pivotally supported upon the members IQ and il which are themselves secured, respectively, to the arms 6 and 8. A frame member 25 is provided With'pairs of hinged partsV 26-25. The load carrying platform itself is hinged to these members by means of the shaft 21 which is also engaged by the arms 6. A second Y it, and the member 25 is secured to one of the frame members 38 and overlies the shaft 21. Suryface members, such as boards or plates, may be applied to the framework and overlie the mehr bers 32 and support a load. These members have been omitted from the showing in order to make possible the showing of details which appear below the surface.

The construction just described above provides means for raisingand lowering the load carrying member, and since the load carrying frame and surface kparts are pivoted about the shaft 2l, the device may be tilted from the full-line position of Figure 3 to the dotted line position of that figure.` When thus tilted it acts as a closing or tail Vgate for the vehicle body upon which the device, as a whole, is mounted. l

Since the gate may be heavy, itis convenient to provide power means for moving it to the 'closed position and power means for controlling its return to the load carrying or load supporting position. The gate closing means comprises in the forms here shown a cylinder 33 within which is positioned a piston 34 and a spring 34a. A piston rod 35 secured to the'pston at one end projects outwardly from the cylinder' at its other end and is pivoted, as at 36, between bearing supports 3l which are themselves iixed to Aa frame member 38. This member may be conveniently cylinder is closed by a member 39 to which is attached an extension 46 which, asshown generally in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 3, is pivoted about the shaft 28. Y

The extension 40 is provided with a fluid conduit 4i, as shown in Figure 3. This conduitV is provided with an entrance opening 82 and a ilexible conduit 1'53 is secured to this'opening. The conduit, as shown in Figure l, is secured to one of the arms 8 by attachingl bands G4 and extends to a valve housing 45. The conduit 43 is preferably of a flexible material and is capable of withstanding substantial pressures. Y'

The housing 45, to which the cnduit is attached, contains a valve which is not shown. It may be a valve of almost any type and isarranged to be positioned to direct pressure fluid into the conduit 43 or to permit the escape of pressure duid from the conduit. A third-:position of ad.-

justment is preferably provided by means of which fluid under pressure may be retained in the cylinder 33 to hold the gate closed. A handle d6 is attached to the valve within the housing c5 and by means of an adjustable link 4l is con nected to alever i8 .fixed on theshaft 49. This shaft is carried in suitable bearings supported on the truck body or'truck frame that is provided with an adjusting handle 50 by means of which it may be moved to move the valve handle 46 and hence the valve.

A return connection 5| is attached to the valve housing 45 and when the valve is suitably adjusted pressure iiuid is permittedvto pass outwardly from the valve housing through the con.- nection 5l and through the conduit 52 to the return ud line 22.

In the modified vform of Figure 6. the parte are the same as those described vabove except that certain changes have been made to provide a conduit for vpressure fluid to and from the cylinder 33. Instead o f the flexible conduit .4 3 there ierrovded a path .formed by vrigid members. a Connection is established from the valve` housing 45 to the interior of one of the arms 8. Instead of the solid member Il shown in the earlier figures, this arm has' attached to it a member 53 which is provided with a conduit or Instead of the member 49, as shown in Figure 3, 'Y

the cylinder 33, Vin the form of Figure 6, isV provided with an extension 58 which has formed within it a passage 59 and a groove 68. The groove is formed in the enlargement 6l which is positioned about 4,the tube 51. The tube 51 is providedV with a plurality of perforations Yor openings. 63 in line with the groove 6i)V and in communication, therefore, with the passage 59. Thertube 51 is also provided with perforations cr openings 63 in line with the groove 60 and the passage 59. YThe modification shown in Figure 6, therefore, provides apassagefor pressure fluid to and fromV the cylinder 33. Substantially all of this passage is formed within supporting mem bers which are a normal part of the load raising assembly. These members are merely modiiied to provide a fluid passage.

The Yparts shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5 are positioned in ,the pressure side of the fluid line and they comprise a 'housing 64 which, as

.shown intFigure 4, is connected to the inlet pressure line I9. The member 64 is provided with an upward extension 65 from which a lateral outletl 66 leads toward the cylinder I 4 and receives the connecting member 20 which passes through the trunnion I and communicates with the valve housing 23. The member 64 is shaped to provide a valve seat 66 against which a ball check valve 61 is normally held by aspring 68. The spring itself is adjustably compressed by a conduit or connection member 69 which communicates with the housing 45 of the three-'way valve assembly above described.

Within the extension 65 is formed a valve seat 'I0 upon which a ball check valve I I may be seated. A piston 'I2 ispositioned within the extension 65 and may be provided with a member 13 which is provided in its free end with a rounded socket to receive the ball 16. A compression spring 'I4 is positioned above the pistonlIZ and is held in adjusted compression by a compression plug 'I5 which is threaded in the interior of the upper end of the member E5. A sealing plug 'I6 closes the upper end of the member 65 and may be provided with a gasket 'II or other sealing means. The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

The invention inthe form shown is normally intended to be mounted at some point, usually the rear, upon a motor vehicle such as a truck, and the size and adjustment of the parts is such that the load carrying platform may be lowered to rest upon the ground surface upon which the truck is supported. Inits upper position the platform is approximately on a level `with the load lcarrying floor `oflth'eftruck body. There i fore, in the dotted lineiposition of Figure 2, material may be readily moved from the platform onto thebody floor while vthe two are at substantially the saine-level. Thereafter, the platform may be raised to act as a closuredor tail gate for the vehicle body. i

Ordinarily, latch means are provided for holding the platform in the raised position as shown in Figure 2.' Since the latch means form no essential .part of the present invention, these have beenomitted. The. platform may be held in the raised position byiiuid pressure or by a latch. 4 n Assuming now that the platform has been raised tothe position shown in; Figures 2 and 3 in which its upper surface is substantially on the same level as the upper surface of the body floor I, the platform is closed or moved to the vertical positionshownby dotted lines in Figure 3 by directingpressure fluid through the valve housing 45 to the cylinder 33. l, 2 and 3, pressure fluid passes through the flexible conduit 43 to the cylinder 33. In the form of Figure 6, pressure fluid passes through the conduit formed by the rigid members 8, 53, 51, and 58. The operation of the piston and cylinder assembly which closes the gate is the same for both forms of the invention.

With the parts in the full line position of Figure 3, the pressure fluid is directed in the direction of the arrows shown in the passage 4I. The piston 34 is forced outwardly and as it moves outwardly with respect to the cylinder 33. the platform is tilted upwardly about the pivot 21 and raised to the dotted line position of Figure 3. The member 25 acts as a stop and contacts the flat surfaces of the members 26 as shown in Figure 3, and limits the upward movement of the platform from the horizontal to the vertical position. If desired, conventional pressure relief means may be provided in the iiuid line to act In the form of Figures as a safety check means for preventing break-J age of parts' when the platform has been raised to the full vertical or body closing position.

When it is desired to permit the platform to move to the horizontal position, the valve is reversed and pressure fluid is expelled from the cylinder 33. The compression spring 34a. which has been compressed during the movement of the piston 34 outwardly with respect to the cylinder, will expand and initiate or assist in initiating the return of the piston into the cylinder. The main function of the compression spring 34a is to assist in starting the gate in its movement from the vertical position to the horizontal or load carrying position. Under certain conditions the gate, in a vertical position, is so nearly in'lbalance that the relief 'of pressure on the cylindery alone might not be sufficient to start the gate to the horizontal position. The compression spring is present, therefore. to make sure that the downward tilting of the gate from the vertical position will always occur once the pressure within the cylinder has been relieved. The return movement mentioned carries the platform and the piston and cylinder assembly again to the full-line position of Figure 3.

. T he detail shown in Figures 4 and 5 insures adequate pressure to operate the platform tilting or gate closing means, irrespective of the position of the platform elevating means. Fluid under high pressure from the pump is discharged through the conduit I9. Pressure on the ball check valve 'H is so adjusted that the ball 1I will not be raised from its seat 10 until the pressure from the pump is more than sufficient to unseat the ball 6T and thus to conduct fluid under pressure to the three-way valve which controls the operation of the platform tilting mechanism. The presence of the ball check valve II and the adjustable pressure means for holding it on its seat cooperate together to insure the presence of adequate pressure inthe system to operate the platform tilting means, irrespective of the conditions of operation of the platform raising means.

Due to the fact that the gate closing mechanism shown must be applied to gates of different sizes and Weights, it is necessary to provide means for supplying the cylinder 33 with fluid at greater pressures in the case of a heavy or larger gate than are necessary in the case of lighter or smaller gates. As a manufacturing convenience and economy, the mechanism for closing the gate is preferably made in a single size. Since the total gate assembly is, however, manufactured for mounting on trucks of different sizes the load carrying platform is normally made in several different sizes and weights. To avoid making the gate tilting cylinder and associated parts in different sizes it is necessary to provide adjustable means for supplying to the cylinder pressure suitable for closing a gate of the size and weight to which the cylinder and piston assembly are connected. The adjusting means for this purpose are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. It is desirable normally to set the top closing pressure available to close any gate so that it is just adequate to close the gate itself. The Dressure available in each cylinder for closing the gate should, therefore, be only enough to close the gate and not enough to close the gate with a load upon it. By adjusting the nut 'I5 on the compression spring 14, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, only a predetermined pressure can be applied to the gate to close it. Pressure above the 7 eredeterminedfpeint -w11i1nseat tbe;bell 1l and permit vthe yiiuid to pass fthe-,seat 1,0 and to :move awayrthrough the conduit 20. ,In V,other words. when pressure above Aapredetermined maximum ocours,1the .bypass system opens -to 'Prevent that excess pressure .from being ytransmitted to the cylinder 33. The adjustment of lthe nut 51,5 v,is such that pressure is balanced against the particular gate weight of a given installation. 4.1t is 'to permit :this'adjustment of the assembly to gates of different weights that the adjustment, including lthespring 11i-and the adjusting nut 4'i5 and the `.bypass 2.0, is included'in the device. The pressure is adjusted to be just sufiicientto close the gate. In other words, Vif any load remains upon the gate when the operator `attempts to close it, the gate will not closeand tip `off the object which may have remained upon it. The presence of the object `upon the gate naturally increases the weight which must be raised when tbe gate is moved .toward the vertical or .closing position and a great-er pressure is required to accomplish this movement than is required to close the gate without any load upon it. Bef-ore this excessive pressure can reach the cylinder .33

of the gate tipping 4meolflanismythe valve 'Il will have been unseateol bythe excessive pressure and the pressure is reduced so that the gate will not have been movedgtoward the closing position until `the object on the gate is removed. Y This adjustment, among other advantages, prevents accidental closing of the gate which may have a breakable or valuable piece of cargo upon it, and thus it prevents this possible vdamage to the cargo.

We claim: Y

1 A-In combination, a combined load carrying gate meL asupport vfor said'` gate mem'- ber, and power means for raisingfsaidgate,member and said supp-ort, a pivote-i connection between said gate member and said support, and power means for tilting said gate, said means including a cylinder and piston assembly, yone member f said assembiy being pivotally supported en said gate support, the other of said members being piyotally connected to said gate,` compression means within said cylinder biased to resist outward movement of said piston, and means for supplying duid under pressure to .said cylinder to move said piston in opposition to said compression -means the outward movements of said pieton being eective to tilt said cylinder and said gate upwardly about 4their respective `pivots.

v2. In combination, a combined load carrying and gate member, a support vfor said gate membei', and power means for raisingsaid gate meinbersaudzsaid-supportial-pivotal connection between said gate .member and .said support, and power.

means for tilting sadfgate. saidmeans .including a cylinder :and piston-assembly. .one member 4of said assembly being pivotally supported on said gate support at a point away from the pivot of said gate, the other of said members being Ypivotally connected to said gate, compression means within said vcylinder biased to resist outward movement of `said. piston, vand ymeans forsupplying fluid -under pressure to said cylinder to move said piston in opposition to said compression means, the outward movement of said vpiston being Veective to tilt ysaid-cylinder and said gateV upwardly about their respective-pivots.

3.1n`combination, a combined load carrying `and gate 4meinbena ,support for saidgatemember,

and .power means for raising .said 4gate member and said support, afpivotal connection .betweensaid gate .member .and -said support. and power means for tilting said vgate with respect `to lsaid support, said ,means including a cylinder and piston assembly, one member of .said assembly being pivotally supported on said gate support at a point away from the pivot of said gate, the other of said members being pivotally connected to said gate, compression means within .said cylinder biased to resist outward movement of said piston, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to move said piston in opposition to said .compression means, the Outward movement of said piston being effective to tilt said cylinder and said gate upwardly 4about their respective pivots. WILLIAM C. ANTHONY. LESTER W. 'WACH'IER- REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing references are of record 4in the leof this patent:

e UNITED STATES PATENTS 

